A&E: Behind the Scene

Oct. 4, 2013

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Red carpets, a yellow brick road and "The Iowa Waltz"

A few days after Iowa Falls rolled out the red carpet for actor Hugh Jackman’s visit to the town’s newly re-opened movie house, another old theater re-opened in Fairfield. Des Moines filmmaker Kristian Day renovated the the 1910 Orpheum Theater with Art Deco touches, new seats, a digital projector and a stage for live performances.

• Construction has begun on Cowles Commons (formerly Nollen Plaza), which will include a wide “red carpet” of red granite running from Capital Square to the Des Moines Civic Center ... In other colored-pavement news: The Des Moines Social Club is selling yellow bricks for a yellow brick road that will run through the courtyard of the club’s new space at the renovated firehouse, set to re-open for New Year’s Eve. The engrave-able bricks cost $25, $50 or $100, depending on size.

• Folk singer Greg Brown, who wrote “The Iowa Waltz” back in the early ’80s, has spent the last few decades touring the country, writing a song for Jeff Bridges to sing in the 2009 movie “Crazy Heart,” and generally winning new fans wherever he goes. Later this month he’ll re-issue his album “The Iowa Waltz” on CD and vinyl — from a label in St. Paul, Minn.